Old hands take it

Jonathan Pank reports from the B14 racing at Lee-on-Solent

The B14 circuit continued this weekend at Lee on Solent as part of the Ovington Skiff tour. B14s and 49ers shared one course whilst the 29ers and MPSs shared the other.

The prediction of light winds and strong tides caused a few of the fleet to stay at home in their gardens and miss out on surely the warmest B14 racing since the Worlds held in Australia at Christmas! The 32 remaining competitors assembled in the Solent for a busy weekend's racing with four starts scheduled each day over two laps of a windward/leeward course set just off the body strewn beach.

The current top three in the class rankings were all present thus setting the scene for close competitive racing but with the low wind, and a solid Solent tide, the racing promised to be mentally challenging... at least until the sea breeze was 'arriving' in the afternoon.

Race 1 started in a steadyish force 1 with crews on the foredecks and the tide sluicing down the track. Most of the fleet headed left towards the beach, tacking up the shore before setting off out to sea, hoping that their lane would be the one to land them on the mark. The early arrivers at the windward mark had all come form the pin end of the start line, benefiting from the tide relief by getting inshore quickest. First to the mark were Jono Pank and (making his first appearance in five years since winning the 98 worlds) Dick Parker, they did the predictable thing and got swept onto the mark, allowing the chasing teams of Steve Fish / Neil Barber and 'Seasure' Dave Hayes / Sean Dwyer to sail around them and scoot off downhill. Once untangled and slightly dizzy, Pank / Parker rejoined in forth, just behind 'Raymarine' Nils Jolliffe / Jon Branch. Varying pressure across the track and the one sided beat led to emotional experiences throughout the fleet, at the finish Pank / Parker just gybed through Fish / Barber on the finish line to sneak the bullet with Jolliffe / Branch holding onto third and Hayes / Dwyer coming home forth.

Race 2 commenced after a delay with a slightly shorter course and a still unsettled 5-8 knots. Although ramming the beach was not such a big factor, the left was still the place to be. Pin end starters Tim Harrison / Paul Kameen took the early lead closely followed by Dan Willetts / Stuart Phillips, the consistent Jolliffe / Branch and Don & Kate Forster. The one sided track served up few surprises but the 49ers coming through from behind on the second lap added complications for the fleet.
At the finish line, Harrison / Kameen clinched the win from "Raymarine" who were grabbing their second top 3 result. Willetts / Phillips managed to find their way through the 49ers to finish 3rd whilst just behind, in the midst of a 10 boat finish, Pank / Parker got the better of the Forsters for forth.

Race 3 had the promise of a classic.... the breeze had built to about 12knots and looked promising... Powered up and with crews on the racks, the sea breeze finally seemed to be kicking in. The breeze seemed to bring the top rankers to the fore. At the first mark it was "Seasure" on the heels of Pank / Parker with world champions Tim Fells / Dave Cunningham, event leaders Jolliffe / Branch and current No1 ranked Matt Searle / Rich Bell all lurking just behind. "Seasure" had gained the advantage at the bottom of the run and squeezed ahead on the second lap to record their first win of the weekend followed by Pank / Parker and a resurgent Fells / Cunningham. "Raymarine" grabbed the 4th spot to keep them in the hunt, just two points behind the consistent Pank / Parker.

Unfortunately the start of race 4 looked much like the first of the day, the breeze was down and the tide was beginning to build flowing up the course... variable pressure was probably the main feature of the first beat and as such the main feature of the race with the boats on the left gaining the advantage... "Raymarine" grabbed the initiative and pressed ahead to record their first win of the regatta and move to the top of the leader board. The final run saw the next five boats fighting for the final podium spots, Harrison / Kameen stayed clear of the ensuing mêlée to grab second as the 49ers came through the fleet thick and fast. Willett / Phillips took the last podium spot with R Harrison / C Coultard just behind in forth.

So after a very frustrating days yachting for some, "Raymarine" lead with 10 points from Pank / Parker on 12 and tied in third place on 19 points were "Seasure" and Harrison / Kameen. 4 Races, 4 different winners and not to much true skiffing. Too much for some who packed up and headed home!

Sunday dawned with very little wind and an absence of competitors.... something to do with the poor (light wind) forecast and a pub that wouldn't shut the night before! The fleet was sent out in drifting conditions and completed one very light race (drift) "Seasure" made the best of it to record their second win of the weekend, followed by local sailors RJ Rushton and Will Perret in second with Pank / Parker claiming third to nudge them to the top of the leader board on "last race" ahead of "Raymarine" who had chosen to defend his lead from bed!

The committee then sent the fleet home to wait for the sea breeze that never arrived.... Story of the weekend!

Overall
1st 746 Jono Pank & Dick Parker. (Tamesis) 10 points
2nd 728 Nils Jolliffe & Jon Branch. (Weston) 10 points
3rd 767 Dave Hayes & Sean Dwyer. (Southport) 13 points
4th 688 Tim Harrison & Paul Kameen. (Burnham) 19 points